Council Tax Debt Collection 2026-04-13
2026-04-13
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The question arises from concerns over inco [4D [K inconsistent and disproportionate council tax collection methods that can e [1D [K exacerbate financial difficulties for households.
What assessment has the Department made of the po [2D [K potential impact of council tax debt collection practices on households in [K financial difficulty? Council tax debt collection sometimes involves overly [6D [K overly aggressive enforcement action, moving too quickly towards bailiff in [2D [K intervention without adequate support for vulnerable households.
Because of the inconsistent and disproportionate pr [2D [K practices observed, the Government have consulted on modernising and improv [6D [K improving the administration of council tax, including its collection, and [K we will publish our response shortly.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide a specific assessment or details [K about current debt collection impact
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
StepChange, a charity organisation, has hig [3D [K highlighted issues with some councils moving too quickly towards bailiff en [2D [K enforcement without sufficient support for vulnerable households.
Working with StepChange, it is observed that some [4D [K some councils are too often moving too quickly towards bailiff enforcement [K action. Would the Minister consider issuing best practice to councils to en [2D [K ensure that vulnerable households are supported instead of being pushed int [3D [K into further financial misery by overly aggressive enforcement?
I thank my hon. Friend for raising this issue and S [1D [K StepChange through him for its work. As I mentioned, we will have more to s [1D [K say in this area shortly, but the Ministry of Justice is involved too, so I [1D [K I will work with Ministers there.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to issuing best practice guidance [K or address the issue directly
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
Concerns are raised about the regressive na [2D [K nature of council tax based on outdated property values, with poorer househ [6D [K households paying a larger proportion relative to income.
Council tax is acknowledged as regressive due to [K outdated property valuation. Instead of consulting just on collection metho [5D [K methods, will the Minister commit to review and replace this unfair tax sys [3D [K system with one that better reflects current property values?
I thank the hon. Lady for raising this issue. We wi [2D [K will have more to say shortly, but when it comes to fairness, the Chancello [9D [K Chancellor introduced a new charge for highest-value properties showing Lab [3D [K Labour's readiness to act on fairness issues.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to reviewing or replacing council [K tax; instead referenced a specific policy change
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
Concerns about the government's approach to [2D [K to maximising council tax revenues without proper assessment of cost-of-liv [11D [K cost-of-living impacts.
Maximising council tax increases underpins the Go [2D [K Government's financial strategy. The Minister admits no impact assessment h [1D [K has been done regarding these rises on living costs for households. Will sh [2D [K she assure that the Prime Minister considered this when deploying bailiffs [K to enforce collection?
I think that is a little bit rich given what we liv [3D [K lived through. On average, Tory councils cost people more. The best way to [K ensure recovery from austerity is to improve services and deal with the cos [3D [K cost-of-living crisis by not paying for failure.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address questions about impact assessment [10D [K assessments or assurances regarding Prime Minister's considerations
Attack
Process Answer
Response accuracy